“Your sneakers are looking good!” Joy chuckled as it got rowdy.
“I have said my say. Have a fantastic week.” The music started and the noise started. The pupils all walked out in single file. Joy smiled and walked down the stairs. She shook the parents hands and chatted as she walked out. Joy headed to her office.
Penny smiled. Joy shook her head. She chuckled as Penny’s phone started ringing. She walked through to Joy’s office two hours later.
“The phone hasn’t stopped ringing. Every call was to congratulate you on the fabulous newsletter.” Joy chuckled.
“Really?” Penny nodded.
“Hang on a sec! How would they have seen the newsletter? The kids are here!” Penny roared with laughter. She looked at Joy.
“I somehow think that is a newspaper. And someone got their hands on it.” Joy chuckled and nodded.
Penny walked back to her office. She signed for the bouquet of flowers that had just arrived and took them through to Joy.
“And someone sent you flowers.” Joy smiled as Penny put them in the vase and took the envelope and handed it to Joy.
Joy opened the card and read.
“I was so wrong. I am sorry. I love you. Jordan.” Joy closed her eyes and felt the tears building up. She took out her tissues and stopped the tears. She would not cry. She would not allow anyone to see her in tears. Joy held her head in her hands. She didn’t know what to do. But she would go back to the motel. She would not be going back to the pub.
The bell rang and Joy left school. She headed for town. The town was buzzing with excitement. Joy smiled as everyone waved. She walked in to the grocer and took her basket. Joy bought long hot dog rolls and chose a few cheese grillers from the deli counter. She smiled as she took them and put them in to her basket. She walked over and took a tub of mustard and margarine. Joy sighed. She didn’t even have a knife. She stood and stared at the plastic plates and the knives and forks. She bought six of the brightest plastic plates she could find. She added a set of knives and forks. She smiled and paid for her purchases and walked back to her van. She hopped in and the tears built up. She took her tissue out and dried her tears. Joy drove over to the motel. She broke down in tears as she sat in the van.
Jordan quietly opened her door and pulled her into his arms.
“I love you.” Joy nodded. He cradled her head to his chest.
“I am sorry. What I said was out of line. I apologize. I don’t want to lose you Joy. You have become my life. Please come home.” Joy burst into tears.
“But I didn’t buy food!” Jordan smiled and held Joy.
“We have enough food for tonight. Tonight I am taking you out for supper.” Joy sniffed and took her tissue and wiped her eyes.
“Will you come home?”
“Not if you yell at me.”
“I won’t yell at you.” Joy nodded.
“Shift over.” Joy moved over and Jordan drove them home. He carried the packet. They both walked through and Craig smiled.
“What is in the packet?” Joy looked at Jordan and smiled.
“Cheese grillers and rolls.” Craig nodded.
“Could do with one of those.” Joy smiled as she walked up the stairs with Jordan. He held her in his arms.
“I am sorry. I will never yell at you again.” Joy smiled and looked at Jordan.
“And this is my home. Get used to it.” Jordan roared with laughter.
“And I am starved!” Jordan grinned. Joy walked to the stove and put the pot on and put the cheese grillers in the water to boil. Jordan took the bread rolls out. The cheese grillers were almost ready. Joy added the cheese grillers to the rolls. Jordan grinned.
“You must have been starved!” Joy nodded.
“Yes. Famished. I haven’t eaten all day long!” Jordan smiled as she put all the rolls in to a dish. They both walked downstairs. They sat down and everyone tucked in to the rolls. Sarah smiled as she ate her roll.
Joy got up soon afterwards.
“I think I need to go to the shops.” Jordan smiled.
“I will join you.” Joy smiled as they both headed to the grocer. He pushed the trolley as Joy loaded.
“And I think tonight is a Bolognese night.” They both looked up. Tanya nodded.
“I think so.” Joy giggled and Jordan roared with laughter.
“Don’t you have a home?”
“Two. Yours and Mums. Mum is doing some kind of stir fry.” Joy chuckled and nodded.
“I thought I was going out for supper.” Jordan smiled.
“You are. But I would hate to take away the shopping.” Joy smiled. Tanya grinned.
“So what did we get?” Joy smiled.
“Definitely Bolognese.” Tanya smiled.
“Toss up. I was invited for supper. What should I do?’ Jordan grinned.
“Say yes.” Tanya grinned.
“Maybe I should.” Jordan nodded.
“Maybe you should.” Tanya chuckled.
“I am sure Bolognese will keep.” Jordan nodded.
“Okay. See ya!” Tanya ran off. Joy shook her head.
“I hope that means she has a date.” Jordan smiled and nodded.
“Let’s hope.”
Joy smiled.
“I think I need a bottle of hooch.” Jordan smiled and hugged Joy.
“I was an idiot. And I should be reprimanded.” Joy smiled.
“I was silly and childish.” Jordan chuckled and held Joy in his arms.
“No. I was the childish one. And I want to make it up to you.”
“You don’t have to.” Jordan shook his head.
“No Joy. I need to. And tonight we are going out for supper. You and I. No family. Just you and I.” Joy smiled as they headed home.
She got dressed in a nice suit and Jordan ran up the stairs.
“Ready.” Joy smiled and nodded. He walked her down the stairs and they headed out the front door.
“Jordan?” He smiled.
“Come.” Jordan drove to the restaurant up the road. He helped Joy out of the van and they walked in. He smiled as he walked inside.
“We have a reservation. Lewis.” They were taken to their table. Joy sat down and smiled and looked at Jordan. He smiled as he held her hand.
“Jordan. You didn’t have to.” Jordan smiled.
“No. Joy. You are wrong. What I want to do I can’t do with crowds. I am a shy guy. Like that song we sing.” Joy smiled.
He got up and Joy stared. He fiddled in his pocket and went down on his knee. Jordan opened the ring box and looked at Joy.
“Joy. I want to marry you. I want to have a family. I want to move. Into a home. Where you can have everything. A real home. Will you marry me?” Joy held her hands over her mouth. She looked at Jordan and whispered.
“To be your wife?” Jordan nodded.
“Yes!” Jordan smiled as he took the ring out of the box. Joy whispered.
“Yes.” He slipped the ring over her finger. Jordan nodded.
“Yes.” Joy smiled.
“Yes Jordan.” He smiled and looked at her finger.
“Oh Jordan!” He got up and pulled Joy into his arms.
“I love you. I have never loved anyone. Ever. You are my one and only Joy. Will you marry me? Be my wife. Have our children.” Joy sighed and smiled. She barely whispered.
“Yes. Yes I want that!” Jordan smiled and pulled Jordan into his arms.
“I slipped up badly. Don’t let me do that again.” Joy smiled.
“I love you Jordan. I know I am not perfect.” Jordan smiled.
“One month. I have booked the church and the pastor. If you change your mind.” Joy smiled. She looked at Jordan.
“I won’t change my mind. I love you. I will be ready.”
“This means the world to me.” Joy smiled.
“Jordan. You mean the world to me.” He smiled.
“You are my world.” Jordan held her in his arms.
“I love you.” Joy smiled.
“I love you.”
“Jordan. Last night. I realized. I can’t be without you.” Jordan held her in his arms. She held on to Jordan. He held her in his arms.
“I think we need a real home.” Joy smiled and shook her head.
“When we grow out of our home. Then we can consider things like that. Moving. But for now. I rather like my home.” Jordan smiled.
“We order another table and chairs?” Joy nodded.
“Yes. In bright pink?” Joy nodded.
“Jordan. I don’t want to move. Until we have to.” Jordan smiled.
“But will that be your home?” Joy smiled.
“On our way back. I need to clear my room. And then I need to pay my bill. I want to go home with you. Where I belong.” Jordan smiled.
“As in.” Joy nodded.
“As in I live at home. People can think what they like. Home is home. And your home is my home.” Jordan smiled as he looked up. The waiter put their starters on the table. Joy smiled.
“Oh Jordan!” He smiled.
“Snails?” Joy smiled and nodded. They both sat and ate their snails.
“Oh I hope Douglas has broadened his horizons!” Jordan grinned and chuckled.
“Did you see the specials?” Joy nodded and whispered.
“Oh I am going to stock up! Salmon! We have to!” Jordan roared with laughter. Joy smiled as she watched her plate being removed and the Lobster Thermidore being put down in front of her. Joy smiled.
“Jordan.”
“I hope you like. I kind of selected our meals.” Joy smiled and nodded. She looked at her ring.
“I love you Jordan. I had a rough night. I had a heavy day.” He held her hand.
“I know.”
Joy smiled.
“Don’t let it happen again.” Jordan smiled.
“I won’t.”
“You need to take control.”
“I will. I have. I think.”
“I need a rudder. I need a guide.” Jordan smiled. They tucked in to their meal. Joy smiled.
“I think pudding at home.” Jordan nodded. He took the bill folder and put his cash inside. He smiled and looked up.
“Thanks.” The waiter smiled.
“My pleasure Mister Lewis. Professor Sheridan.” They walked out and Joy smiled. She hugged Jordan.
“Take me home you sexy thing!” Jordan grinned.
“That I will. Straight home.” Joy smiled and nodded. She held on to Jordan. Joy whispered.
“I was worried.” Jordan smiled.
“So was I.” She sighed.
“Thank you. For my flowers. For taking me out for supper.” Jordan smiled.
“Jordan it matters. It matters a whole lot.”
“I wanted to do something different. You come home every day and you cook our meal. You needed spoiling.” Joy smiled.
They headed home and Jordan held her in his arms. They walked through the door of the pub and Joy smiled. She looked up at Jordan.
“This is home.”
“And when our babies arrive?” Joy smiled.
“Plenty of room. We have a spare room. Two. There is lots of room for a walking ring. Jordan we have it all.” Jordan smiled and pulled Joy into his arms. He stood at the front door. Craig smiled.
“Coffee?” Joy smiled.
“Make it a real Irish.” Craig smiled and nodded. They walked through and sat at a table. Jordan held Joy’s hand.
“Joy if there is anything that irks you. Anything.” Joy smiled.
“No angel. Nothing at all.” Jordan smiled.
“You sure. Walking ring?” Joy smiled and nodded.
“Lots of space. Sarah is right there. Frank is right there. All we have to do is carry the walking ring down the stairs.” Jordan chuckled and nodded.
Joy smiled as she looked at her ring. She looked up at Jordan.
“Thank you.” Joy lifted herself and kissed Jordan.
“I love you. I wanted to hit you. But I love you.” Jordan smiled. He held her hand.
“Do you like it?” Joy smiled and nodded.
“I love it.” Jordan smiled as Craig brought their coffee.
“Well now. Congratulations!” Joy smiled.
“Thank you Craig.” Craig smiled. They had their coffee. Jordan smiled.
“Can we go and settle your bill now?” Joy smiled and nodded.
“Yes.” They drove out and Joy settled her bill at the motel. She smiled as she paid.
“You going home Miss Sheridan?” Joy smiled and nodded as Jordan hugged her.
“Yes I am.” Jordan smiled as they walked out. Everything was in the van. They headed straight home. Joy smiled as Jordan carried her overnight bag. Craig shook his head.
They both walked up the stairs. Jordan put her bag down.
“Jordan I want to try something. A few new songs. Just us.” Jordan smiled and nodded. They ran down the stairs and Joy took a seat with Jordan at the stage. Joy strummed on the guitar.
“Do you remember this one?’ Jordan grinned and nodded. They both sat and played their guitars. Clyde quietly walked in and picked up the trombone. He joined in. Joy and Jordan both grinned. She giggled.
“Hey Clyde!” Clyde smiled and nodded.
“Are we jamming?” Jordan smiled.
“Just for an hour or so. Joy wanted to try a few things.” Clyde nodded. Joy strummed and nodded. Clyde and Jordan nodded. She started to sing.
“There’s a kind of hush all over the world.” Bruce walked through.
“Off duty!” He chuckled and sat at the drums and quietly drummed. Joy smiled as they sang the chorus. Jordan smiled as he listened to the words.
Joy started strumming to Moonshadow by Cat Stevens. Jordan started singing. Joy strummed along and smiled. They smiled as the chorus line came. The patrons were all singing along. Joy chuckled. They all started to sing. Bruce cleared his throat and started to sing. Clyde smiled. Jordan closed his eyes and played the guitar solo. Joy joined in and they both sang.
Joy carried on strumming and sang ‘How Can I Tell You’ by Cat Stevens. Jordan smiled as he listened. She smiled and sang to Jordan. Jordan got up and pulled Joy in to his arms.
“I love you.” Joy smiled.
“I love you.”
“Last song folks.” He struck up with Beautiful Sunday. Joy smiled and played her guitar. Everyone joined in. They both sat and rocked on their chairs. Sarah stood singing in the kitchen. Frank smiled as he danced up and down. Craig sang and smiled.
“This is my, my, my beautiful day!” Jordan smiled and sang to Joy. They ended the song and smiled. The patrons all clapped. Everyone got up and left the stage.
Tanya and the family walked in. Zeba stood and looked at them both.
“Now. I believe you are wearing the jeweler on your finger!” Joy giggled and shook her head. They all hugged and kissed Joy and Jordan. Lloyd looked around.
“Champagne Frank. On the house. Put it on my bill.” Frank chuckled as he opened a few bottles of champagne and handed everyone a glass. Zeba hugged Joy.
“This is such good news. Now have you two decided where you will be living?” Jordan nodded.
“We are staying here.” Lloyd nodded.
“Much better. The changes Joy has already made are huge. Now have you ordered that table and chairs?” Jordan smiled and held Joy in front of his body as he drank his champagne.
“Not yet. That is the first thing on the list for tomorrow.” Lloyd nodded.
“Well your home is central. You can always renovate. And if you need a garden you can work out back.” Tanya giggled. Zeba smiled.
“And when are you moving in?”
“Just moved.” Lloyd whispered.
“Little fibber. You have lived here forever.” Joy giggled and Jordan grinned.
“We settled Joy’s bill at the motel. So Joy is here to stay.” Zeba nodded.
“Good. Good. Now when the babies arrive we don’t mind ba
bysitting. Have you set a date?” Jordan nodded.
“Yes we have. You might be arranging our wedding Mum.” Zeba grinned and nodded.
“I will take over right now. All I need is the date.” Jordan smiled and gave Zeba the date. She nodded and smiled.
The family headed out after having their champagne. Joy and Jordan smiled. They headed home early. Frank smiled as he looked at his cell phone. Craig looked over his shoulder.
“Oh there! That one. Where he is holding her hand. Use that one!” Frank nodded.
“This is going to be a good newsletter.” Craig grinned.
“Already got two adverts in for the next one.” Frank nodded and smiled.
Joy and Jordan lay in bed. He held her in his arms. They were soon making love. Joy smiled and sighed as she looked at Jordan.
“The newsletter hit the streets just after nine. Perfect timing.” Jordan smiled.
“And the postman made sure everyone got their copy. Wait till next week.” Joy smiled.
“What are we going to put in the next newsletter?”
“Got a few ads already. Things are taking off nicely.”
“We got loads of calls about the newsletter today. Penny had so many compliments.” Jordan smiled.
“Compliments that should come to you.” Jordan smiled.
“Oh I had loads of compliments. Don’t you worry.” Joy smiled.
“It has turned out to be your creation.” Jordan smiled.
“It might be my creation. But you generate every bit of information that there is.” Joy chuckled.
“We need news this week. And lots of it. All I can think of is the Drum Majorettes training. The band getting together. We need to do a feature on each of the Prefects. We could do a feature on each business in town. What they do. How long they have been there. Things like that.” Jordan chuckled.
“Sweetheart.” Joy giggled.
“Not all in one week. Slowly. We have the whole year.”
“Yes but the Prefects. They need to know who the Prefects are.” Jordan smiled.
“I will send my reporter out tomorrow morning to do an interview with them.” Joy giggled.
“You do that Mister Editor.” Jordan chuckled.
“Good night sweetheart. Shut the brain down. Let me do the thinking for the next ten minutes.” Joy giggled. They were quiet for a while.
“Jordan.”
“Sweetheart.”
“Are you asleep?”
Taking Charge Page 17